Book Reviews

Told through medieval poetic forms and in the voices of the people and objects in Joan of Arc’s life, (including her family and even the trees, clothes, cows, and candles of her childhood). Along the way it explores issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired. It is that girl we come to know in Voices.

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of ArcDavid Elliott​HMH Books for Young Readers, 2019Source: ARC

I have a strong connection to Joan of Arc - she's one of my favorite historical figures. She led an army as a teenager! I definitely didn't have that kind of knowledge, confidence, or bravery as a teen. So I jumped at the chance to read Elliott's Voices and read his take on her history. Every poem is unique and I liked how they covered her life from beginning to end. I wasn't a fan of how it skipped around, but it did make me think. One of my favorite parts of his books is that he explains the different styles of poetry and why he used them.